It was a real community festival,” said Mengistu, who now lives in Nes Tziona. Furthermore, as the mass-immigration events of Operation Moses (1983) and Operation Solomon (1991) fade into history, it appears that a shrinking number of young Ethiopian-Israelis speak Amharic or feel strong connections to Ethiopian Jewish history. On religious issues, too, Ethiopian Jewish customs and laws are far removed from European (Ashkenazi) and Sephardi (Arab and North African) ones that dominate Israel’s cultural milieu. When there is a conflict, I would certainly follow the Shulchan Aruch (a 15th century code of Jewish law that forms the basic outline for most of Rabbinic law). But look over there – instead of celebrating Sigd on a mountain dreaming about Jerusalem, we are here.

Source: Ethiopian News December 02, 2016 05:32 UTC